The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

Books That Will Burrow Into Your Soul This Halloween [SHOWING SLIDE 7 OF 10]

At this time of year, torture porn, suspenseful slashers and emo-teenage vampires aren’t in short supply on TV. As Halloween nears, it’s the perfect time of year to unsettle into a little psychological horror to fully grab your imagination. After reading Stephen Dobyns’ The Burn Palace you may think twice about sleeping overnight in a hospital. Ryu Murukami’s In the Miso Soup takes you through three grisly and savage days with a sex tour guide into the sleazy demimonde of Tokyo’s worst streets. And Bret Easton Ellis masterfully creates a meta witches’ brew while casting himself as the reluctant anti-hero in Lunar Park. Here are our picks to sustain fright through All Hallows’ Eve.

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